“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” by Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger” is mainly centered on gaining strength and recovering from a broken relationship. Here, Kelly proves to her ex that their separation did not make her feel less of herself or needy, but rather made her stronger.

She admits that she may be currently alone, yet, she feels better and has more control over life than when she was with him. It seems this guy broke up with her, thinking that she will remain sad and lonely. However, she tells him that he’s absolutely wrong to have thought that way. On the contrary, Kelly believes that though it was a tough situation she has learnt from it and that is where she draws her strength. Again, she doesn’t miss him because being with him was actually burdensome, and she has now seen that there are better options for her.

The singer literally thanks her ex-lover for taking her through the pain of a breakup because through that, she has realized that she is strong enough to have pulled through and is now able to determine the negative qualities he exhibited and avoid such people in the future.

Source of Song’s Title “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”

The old proverb “that which does not kill us makes us stronger”, which served as the inspiration for this track, was coined by prominent German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900).

Music Video

The music video to “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” had Shane Drake as its director. And it was received well, gathering award nominations in its own right.

Release Date of “Stronger”

This is the title track for Kelly Clarkson’s second album, which is simply entitled “Stronger”. And it was officially released by RCA Records as the second single from that project on 17 January 2012.

However, the label had debuted the song prematurely, on 5 October 2011.  This was due to it and in excess of 50 other Kelly Clarkson tracks being leaked.

On the album itself this song goes by a slightly different name, which is “What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)”.

First Live Performance of “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You”

And the first time Clarkson performed this track live was in Los Angeles on the date of 19 October 2011. Moreover the first time she did so on television was on the episode of “The X Factor” dated 23 November 2011.

Success of “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You”)

“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” flew to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. And other countries in which it scored a number one are Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Denmark, Canada and Belgium. And globally it impressively charted in over 30 countries, including peaking at number eight on the UK Singles Chart.

Moreover this song has been certified multi-Platinum in Australia and the United States.

In fact heading into the year 2020, this single has sold in excess of five-million copies. By virtue of this, it is ranked amongst the best-selling songs ever made.

“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” was also nominated for multiple Grammy Awards in 2013. One of the categories in which it received a nomination for was the “Record of the Year”. It lost that award to Gotye’s smash hit single “Somebody That I Used to Know“.

Credits for Writing and Production

Greg Kurstin produced the track. And he also served as part of the songwriter team with J. Elofsson, A. Tamposi and D. Gamson. Kelly Clarkson didn’t write this song!

Interestingly enough, songwriter Elofsson in particular penned the tune with Leona Lewis in mind as its singer. However, she opted not to record the song.

Similar to “Since U Been Gone”

Kelly Clarkson has said this song is reminiscent of another she dropped in 2004 entitled “Since U Been Gone”. And that is something which some critics noticed also.